Tension control for label pasting belts



Jan. 24, 1933. A. FISHER TENSION CONTROL FOR LABEL PASTING BELTSImferiiJ- Filed Sept; 26, 1931 this free end of the label to, the can. TAs will.

Patented Jan. 24, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AIDA FISHER, OFPALISADES PARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO INTERNATIONAL PATENTSDEVELOPMENT COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A. CORPORA- TION OFDELAWARE TENSION CONTROL FOR LABEL PASTI'NG BELTS Application filedSeptember 26, 1931. Serial 1T0. 565,397.

This invention relates toan a paratus for applying liquid adhesive tosur aces preliminary to a gluing operation, for example, for applyingglue to the marginal portion of labels adapted to be applied tocontainers. The present invention may be employed in various operationswherein it is desired to evenly and uniformly distribute adhesive overgiven surfaces, but to facilitate an understanding'thereof it will herebe described in connection with the art of afiixing labels tocylindrical cans.

The general process of labelling cans, of

which the present invention is only a part,-

may be briefly'described as follows:

The unlabeled can is fed into amachin'e which rolls it to a stack oflabels which are maintained at an approximately constant level bycontrol of the stack. Immediately before the can reaches the stack oflabels a thin strip of paste or glue is applied longitudinally along theside wall of the can. This strip of glue is called pick-up glue. As thecan rolls onto the stack of labels its progress is so timed that thepick-up glue comes into contact with one end of the topmost label of thestack causing the label to adhere to the can and thereby wrap itselfaround the can as the latter continues to roll across the stack. Theglue which secures the opposite end of the label after the label iscompletely wrapped around the can is applied by an endless lt whichpasses through a glue-pot and slides over the stack of labels at saidopposite end. env the label is partially wrapped around the can, the canwith the label thus attached is'diverted from the stack of labels.

This movement pulls the opposite end ofthe label out from under theendless belt or paste-' applying belt, as it is called. Means are.

thereafter provided for. fitting and sealing readily be seen, when thetopmost label is thus pulled away from the stack the pasmapplying beltimmediately contacts the next label and prepares it for the followingcan.

The present invention is directed to the means for" guiding andtensioning the endless belt and relates specifically to improved meanslocated at the bottom means for securing the proper en agement betweenthe belt and the stack of la els.

In devices heretofore employed for this purpose muchdifliculty has beenencountered in so iding the'belt across the label as to provi e an evenspread of glue at all points. Theprincipal trouble arises from the gluescraplng off of the belt on the edge of the stack of labels, whichaction results not only 'in a loss of glue but also in a generalsmearing of the labels which is reflected in the untidy appearance ofthe labeled cans. This fault is caused by improper tension of the beltand the consequent inability to properly guide the same.

Another problem has been encountered in adjusting the label pastingdevice to accommodate labels of varied sizes.

The principal object of this invention is to provide improved means fortensioning and guiding a label pasting belt whereby the paste isevenly'and uniformly applied to the labels without danger of loss ordamage oocasioned by scraping of the belt against the ed es of thelabels. i

further object is to provide improved means for easily and eflicientlyadjusting the tension of the label pasting belt. I

A further object is to provide improved means for tensioning and guidinga label pastin belt by means which can be quickly and e ciently adjustedto varied sizes of labels.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the label pasting apparatus with partsshown in vertical section.

Fig; 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the carriage and guide leverwith the belt omitted.

-Fig. 3 is a plan view of the belt supporting arm with the guiding andtensioning means assembled thereon with the belt omitted.

Referring to the drawing, the reference Figural designates a glue pot ofknown construction in which is mounted means, also known, for applying athin strip of glue or other adhesive to the outside surface of anendless belt, -or paste-applying belt 2 which courses therethrough. Thispaste-applying the g belt 2 is supported outside the glue-pot 1 by guidepulleys 3 and 4 pivotally mounted on 'one end of a supporting arm 5which is secured at its'other end to a bracket 6 attached in suitablemanner to the glue-pot 1. Supporting arm 5 is adjustably secured to saidbracket 6 by means of a clamp screw 7 which extends through a slot 8longitudinally positioned at one end of said supporting arm 5. As bestshown in Fig. 3 the pulleys 3 and 4 are formed with depressed or groovedcentral ortions to reduce .friction andto keep 1 ue from smearing. Alabel bed 9 is positioned with one end directly under the paste-applyingbelt 2 at a point approximately-midway between the glue-pot Land theguide pulleys 3 and 4. Said label bed 9 forms supporting means for astack of labels 10 which extends slightly over the top thereof and iskeptat approximately this level bymeans (not shown% at the bottom of thelabel bed 9. The la el bed 9 extends at right angles to thepaste-applying belt 2 in the direction away from the supporting arm 5 sothat the extreme end of the portion of the top surface of the stack oflabels 10 is directly under the paste-applying belt 2.

As thus far described the apparatus is of known construction.

Slidably arranged on the supporting arm 5 is a block or carriage 11adapted to be locked thereto by a bolt 12. Intermediately pivoted onsaid carriage 11 on the side toward the paste-applying belt 2 is a guidele- Ver 13 comprising two guide arms 14 and 15, a. belt channel orslideway 16 formed between said guide arms, a finger 17 projecting fromone of said guide arms, and a pressure control arm 18. Finger 17 whichprojects from one of said guide arms, for example arm 14, is adapted tofit between the upper and lower runs of paste-applying belt 2 and forthat purpose is ooved or slotted to minimize friction. TE; opposite armis truncated to facilitate threading the paste-applying belt 2 intoplace. The belt channel or slideway 16 is of slightly greater width thanthat of aste-applyin belt 2 and is provided with ongitudinal s oulders19 adapted to receive the mar 'nal portions of the paste-applying belt2. houlders 19 provide a depressed or grooved central portion 20, tominimize friction and to' revent the glue from smearing, and pre erablyextend the full length of the channel 16, at the ends of which they arebluntly tapered.

To facilitate the proper positioning of la- -bel bed 9 and the stack oflabels 10 the guide site the foreward end of channel lever 13'is formedwith transverse shoulders 21 and 22. Shoulder 22 is adapted toaccommodate the side of the label bed 9. Shoulder 21 is preferablypositioned at a point oppo- The guide arms 14 and 15 and the finger 17of guide lever 13 are yieldingly pressed into engagement with thelabels10 by means of a spring 23 interposed between the pressure control arm18 and the supporting arm 5. Pressure control arm 18 is provided with alurality of holes 24, each adapted to receive one end of spring 23according to the amount of pressure desired. The anchoring means for theother end of spring 23 comprises a base plate 25 provided with alongitudinal slot 26 in the central portion thereof, an upstandingflange 27, a pin or stud bolt 28 projecting from said flange, and a.hole 29 in said pin 28 adapted to engage the other end of the spring 23.A bolt and clamp washer 30 extends through theslot 26 and into the,

supporting-arm 5.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The block or carriage 11 is moved so that the shoulder 21 of the guidearm 13 is in close contact with the edge of the labels and shoulder 22is in contact with the edge of the label bed 9. When the block has thusbeen adjusted to accommodate the particular size of label to be pasted,the carriage 11 is locked into position by bolt 12, and the apparatus isready for operation. Themotive power for driving the belt may be appliedat any convenient point but is usually applied at the glue-pot 1.

The paste-applying belt 2 rotates or courses in a clockwise direction(Fig. 1) through the glue-pot 1 and emerges with a thin strip of gluedeposited on the top central portion thereof. This thin strip of glue isprevented from smearing by virtue of the depressed central portions ofthe guide pulley 3 and the channel or slideway 16. As the portion of thebelt 2 with the glue thus applied reaches the stack of labels 10, it ispressed against the top label by finger 17, which is actuated by spring23, and the glue is thereby smeared over the surface of the label. Itshould be particularly noted that in view of the juxtaposition of theforeward end of the slideway 16 (nearest the glue-pot 1) and thetransverse shoulder 21, the pasteapplying belt 2, as it leaves thechannel 16, cannot possibly scrape against the edge of the stack oflabels 10 by virtue of the fact that the edge of the labels 10 aresupported again'stsaid shoulder 21 which is at a point directly belowthe said end of the slideway '16. It should also be noted in thisconnection that the spot where the paste-applying belt 2 comes intocontact with the labels 10 is determined b both the location of thetransverse shoul or 21 and the height of the longitudinal shoulders 19in slideway 16. In the preferred embodiment of this inven tion thelongitudinal shoulders 19 are sufiiciently above the transverse shoulder21 to permit the paste-applying belt 2 to come into contact with thelabel at a point sufliciently removed from the edge of the label stack10 to avoid any possibility of the paste-applythe clamp screw ing belt 2scraping against the said edge. In actual practice it has sometimes beenfound desirable to construct the longitudinal shoulders 19 of suchheight that the paste-applying belt 2 contacts the label stack at apoint substantially removed from the edge thereof. When the longitudinalshoulders 19 are thus constructed a skilled operator can vary the pointof contact to points nearer the edge if desired by moving the labelsslightly away from the transverse shoulder 21.

As will be seen, the successful operation of the apparatus depends notonly on the features above noted ut also upon the proper tension of thepaste-applying belt 2 to insure uniformity of contact with the labelsand on the proper pressure of the guide arms 14 and and the finger 17against the labels. As has already been mentioned the prelimi narytension of the paste-applying belt 2 is effected by adjusting thelengthof the supporting arm 5 by means of the slot 8 and 7 The tensionof the belt 2 and the pressure of the guide arms 14. and

\ 15 and the finger 17 against the labels is further adjusted byadjusting the tension of the spring 23. This is efiected either byloosenin the bolt and clamp washer and adjusting the position of thebase plate 25' on which the spring 23 is anchored to supporting arm 5 orby securing the spring 23 to another of the holes 24 in pressure controlarm 18.

In conclusion it is again noted that although the above apparatus hasbeen described in an embodiment adapted for use in connection with theart of afiixin labels to cans it is not intended to restrict t e presentinvention thereto. The invention may be used in other fields wherein itis desired to distribute adhesive or other substances over givensurfaces. Also theinvention may be constructed in varied forms and thespecific structure hereinabove described may be modified and changedwithout altering the essence of the invention as covered in thefollowing claims.

' I claim:

1. A guide and tensioning means for the lower paste applying run of alabel pasting belt comprising a fixed support, a lever pivoted on saidsupport, said lever comprising an arm adapted to rest on the labels andhaving means for guiding the belt into engagement with the labels, andspring'means interposed between the lever and the support for holdingthe arm yieldingly in engagement with the labels.

2. A guide and tensioning means for the lower paste applying run of alabel pasting belt comprising a fixed support, a lever intermediatelypivoted on said support, one arm of said lever adapted to rest on thelabels and provided with means for guiding the belt into engagement withthe labels,

and spring means interposed between theother arm of the lever andthe'fixed support for yieldingly pressing the opposite arm intoengagement with the labels.

' 3. A guide and tensionin means for the lower paste applying run 0 alabel pasting belt comprising a fixed support, a lever intermediatelypivoted on said support, one arm of said lever adapted to rest on thelabels and provided with means the belt into engagement with the labels,spring engaged at one end with the other arm of the lever for pressinthe guide arm into engagement with the laiels and an anchoring memberfor the other end of the spring mounted on the fixed support.

4. A guide and tensioning means for the lower paste applying run of alabel pasting belt comprising a fixed support, a lever intermediatelypivoted on said support, one arm of said lever adapted to rest on thelabels and provided with means for guiding the belt into engagement withthe labels, a spring engaged at one end with the other arm of the leverfor pressing the guide arm into en gagement with the labels, ananchoring member for the other end of the sprin mounted on the fixedsupport, and means or adjusting said anchoring member to varythe-efl'ective force of the spring exerted on said lever.

5. A guide and tensioning means for the lower paste applying run of alabel pasting belt comprising a fixed support, a lever interznediatelypivoted on said support, one arm of said lever adapted to rest on thelabels and provided with means for guiding the belt into engagement withthe labels, a

spring engaged at one end with the other arm of the lever for pressinthe guide arm into engagement with the la els, an anchoring member forthe other end of the spring" for uidin g if adjustably mounted on thefixed support and '13 adapted to be locked into fixed engagementtherewith.

6. A guide and tensioning means for the: lower paste applying run of alabel pasting belt comprising a fixed support, a lever intermediatelypivoted on said sup-port, one

arm of said lever adapted to rest on the labels and provided with meansfor guiding the b t into engagement with the labels, and sprin meansadjustably interposed between the other arm of the lever and the fixedsupport for yieldingly pressing the opposite arm into engagement withthe labels.

7 A guide and tensioning means for the lower paste applying run of alabel pasting belt comprising a fixed support, a lever intermediatelypivoted on said support, one arm of said lever adapted to rest'on thelabels and provided with means for guiding the belt into enga ement withthe labels, and a spring engage at one end with thefixed su port andiidjustably engaged at the other en with the ever.

8. A guide and tensioning means for the ment with the labels,

slidably arranged thereon and adapted to be locked thereto, a leverintermediately pivoted on said carriage, one arm of said lever adaptedto rest on the labels and provided with means for guiding the belt intoengagement with the'labels, a spring engaged at one end with the otherarm of the lever for pressing the guide arm into engagement with thelabels, an anchoring member'for the other end of the spring mounted onthe fixed support, and means for adjusting said anchoring member to varythe effective force of the spring exerted on said lever.

10. A guide and tensioning means for the lower paste applying run of alabel pasting belt comprising a fixed support,- a. carriage vslidablyarranged thereon and adapted to be locked thereto, a bellcrank leverpivoted on said carriage, one arm of said lever adapted to rest on thelabels and provided with means for guiding the belt into engagement withthe labels, a tension spring ad ustabl y engaged'at one end with theother arm of the lever for pressing the guide arm into engagefor theother end of the spring mounted on the fixed support, said anchoringmeans comprising a base plate having a slot therein, an

upwardly extending arm, a pin projecting from said arm and adapted toreceive one end of the spring and means for bringing the base plate intolocked engagement with the fixed support at intermediate points within Ipulleys positioned at either the slot.

11. In a pasting apparatus for labels comprising an endless belt, meansfor supporting the belt comprising an arm extending transversely abovethe labels, belt supporting side of the labels and means for applyingpaste to the belt, means for guiding and tensioning the lower pasteapplying run of the belt comprising a carriage slidably arranged on thebelt sup porting arm and adapted to be locked thereto, a pin projectingfrom said carriage, a

lever intermediately pivoted on said pin comprising guiding armsextending on one side of the pivotal axis thereof, a pressure controlarm provided with a plurality of holes on the other side of the saidpivotal axis, and a belt channel between the guide arms and having apair of edge supporting shoulders for the edge portion of the belt, atransverse finger projecting froni one of said gulde belt and adapted torest on the labels, a

spring securedat, one end to the pressure control arm through any one ofthe plurality of holes provided thereon and secured at the other end toan anchoring member adjustably mounted. on the belt supportin arm.

- ADAM FI HER.

arms between the upper and lower runs of the an anchoring member,

